Middle School Report – September 15, 2017

PAT Reading comprehension and PAT Maths testing- will be conducted this week or next dependent on which Maths and English classes your son is in. For the first time at St Patrick’s College both tests will be undertaken on line with results being made available to teachers almost instantaneously. This testing is very important in helping the College best develop quality teaching and learning curriculum designed to meet each of the needs identified through the testing protocols. We can see where development is taking place and what measures need to be put into place to enhance your sons learning as they move forward throughout the College. Term Four will bring our final opportunity to conduct Parent/Student/Teacher Interviews on Thursday October 12 from 4.00 -“ 8.30pm. – All Year 9 students will attend their Term Four Rite Journey experience at the Norval Camp facility in Halls Gap from Wednesday, November 8 to Friday, November 10. During the camp the boys will participate in a number of challenging physical experiences including hiking, rock climbing, abseiling, high ropes and conservation work, which will be conducted by Norval staff and assisted by St Patrick’s College staff.

Objectives of the camp:

• To conclude the boy’s Rite Journey experience.

• To promote healthy natural environments to our boys.

• To encourage an appreciation of the natural environment, and to educate our boys about caring for our national parks.

• To encourage the benefits of team work and being a member of a community.

• To continue to develop leadership in our boys.

• To provide opportunities to build relationships between staff and students and students and students.

• To develop concepts of personal challenge and adventure in each boy’s life.

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Term Four will also see the final Middle School Examinations running from Monday December 4 until Thursday December 7 which will also include the Year 9 Graduation Ceremony running from 2.10 until 3.25pm in the Pavilion.

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-No act of kindness is ever wasted.- Aesop

In 2018 The Middle School Community Service Program will be reintroduced as part of the Middle School timetable.

Community service is when you work for free to the benefit of your community rather than yourself. In our modern world, we need to consider community service not only as a local opportunity but, one that has the potential to recognise and meet global needs.

The St Patrick’s College Middle School Community Service Program will have many positive effects on our students including helping them to develop their listening and communication skills, making contacts with members of the wider Ballarat community, and allowing students to support and further others in need. By engaging in community service, the Middle School Community Service Program will provide our students with the opportunity to become active members of their community and it will have a lasting, positive impact on society at large. Most notably, the Middle School Community Service Program will enable our students to acquire life skills and knowledge, as well as provide a service to those most in need.

My scenario in 2018 looks like this: I will have approximately 120 Year 9 boys, on a Wednesday afternoon once a fortnight and on either a Tuesday or Thursday afternoon the alternative week between 1.45/2.00pm until 3.30; available as boy power to undertake Community Service placements throughout the Ballarat region. Clearly, I am not short of boy power but I do need places for the boys to do their good work. This is where I need your help. If we can be of any assistance to your organisation or contacts that you have, perhaps we could even expand or start new projects now that some -boy power- has become available I would love to hear about them and see what partnerships we can form.

Please contact Mr Michael Busscher on 5322 4429 or mbusscher@stpats.vic.edu.au

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As always, I hope that everyone has a safe and relaxing holiday period and return looking forward to a successful Term Four and the completion of their time in the Middle School.

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Michael Busscher

Director of Middle School

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